Science Background
Potential Job Roles and Salaries
What kind of roles would I be suitable for based on my science/lab background?
If your CURRENT or PREVIOUS job was in SCIENCE/LAB, you could perform the SAME OR SIMILAR job within the pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing industry.
Here are some of the typical roles and the expected salaries:
Biochemist
Scientific professionals who study and explore the chemical processes with biological organisms. Within the pharmaceutical industry, biochemists are employed within research and development departments as well as within quality teams in manufacturing departments.
- Starting Salary: €35,000 to €40,000
- After 2 Years: €40,000 to €45,000
- After 5 Years: €45,000 to €60,000
- Starting Salary: $65,744
- After 2 Years: $82,180
- After 5 Years: $98,616
Laboratory Technician
Assist industry scientists in their research and testing. This can involve a number of different tasks and these tasks can vary greatly between roles. Within the pharmaceutical industry, laboratory technicians can be employed in research and development or in production and manufacturing. As a result, the work can be based in a laboratory or on a production line, depending on the specific responsibilities of the role.
- Starting Salary: €25,000 to €28,000
- After 2 Years: €28,000 to €32,000
- After 5 Years: €32,000 to €35,000
- Starting Salary: $39,816
- After 2 Years: $49,770
- After 5 Years: $59,724
Microbiologist
A scientific professional who studies microorganisms. They play a key role in pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing by testing to monitor levels of microbial contamination at all stages of the manufacturing process.
- Starting Salary: €28,000 to €33,000
- After 2 Years: €33,000 to €45,000
- After 5 Years: €45,000 to €53,000
- Starting Salary: $61,480
- After 2 Years: $76,850
- After 5 Years: $92,220
What roles in pharma manufacturing could I retrain for with a biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, pharmacist, pharmacy technician or science/lab background?
Retrain for quality control, quality assurance or lab/science roles in Pharma Manufacturing. Take our “Conversion Course into Quality Roles in Pharma” to work in QA, QC or Lab Roles
Ideal for:
- anyone with a biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, science/lab, pharmacist, pharmacy technician background
…who want: :to work in QC, QA or lab roles in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry
Duration: 15 weeks
Delivery: Completely Online
Hours per week: 14
Awarding body: GetReskilled
Available Jobs
Irish Pharmaceutical Jobs Board
Check out the Irelands largest pharmaceutical and medical device jobs board and see what jobs are available.
Check now for open positions. Irish Pharma Jobs Board
UK Pharmaceutical Jobs Board
Check out the UK’s largest jobs board focused exclusively on the pharmaceutical and medical device sector and see what jobs are available.
Check now for open positions. UK Pharma Jobs Board
What Type of Jobs Can Scientists & Science Graduates Get in the Pharma Industry?
Our number one piece of advice is to read job adverts.
Until you really get to grips with industry opportunities, don’t discount jobs based on their title alone. Even jobs that sound kind of niche often have some flexibility around degree subject and experience level required. Science roles in pharma are often more about the skills you have than the title of your degree.
But for specialist advice based on your degree subject, click on one of the links below:
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#15-0000 - Career Builder
https://www.careerbuilder.com/insights
Salaries calculated as 80%, 100% and 120% of BLS averages.